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It was just the ugly sort of win the Edmonton Eskimos have been looking for this season.

Sean Fleming kicked four field goals in a 16-10 CFL victory over the Montreal Alouettes in a defensive battle on Sunday in which the only touchdown, by Montreal's Kerry Watkins, came with 1:01 left to play.

The only other scoring by the Eskimos (5-6-1) came on two safeties.

But as dreary a match as it was on a sunny afternoon for the 20,202 fans at Percival Molson Stadium, the win gave Edmonton a sweep of a two-game set with Montreal and put them back in the West Division playoff picture, two points behind third-place Calgary.

"That's the type of game we need to win," said coach Danny Maciocia. "Take it to the end and let it come down to a last drive.

"Those are the ones we've let slip away during the season by not playing the way we're capable of during the fourth quarter. It's huge in this environment against this team.

"It's huge for this organization right now."

After a 47-28 win last week in Edmonton, the Eskimos swept a season series from Montreal for the first time since 1997.

Edmonton now has six games left to earn a playoff spot by either grabbing third place in the West or gaining more points than the third-place team in the East.

"If we play well the next six weeks, we'll find a way to get in somewhere," added Maciocia.

Montreal (6-6) also had a safety and a single on a missed field goal by slotback Ben Cahoon, who filled in for Damon Duval after the kicker suffered a concussion when he was hit while making an ill-advised punt attempt that was blocked in the second quarter.

A wobbly Duval returned in the fourth quarter, only because the backup placekicker and punter were also hurt.

Cahoon, just back from a rib injury, played despite pulling a hamstring in the pre-game warm-up.

And Montreal's starting quarterback Marcus Brady, in for injured No. 1 Anthony Calvillo, pulled a quadriceps muscle and left the game eight minutes into the second half. Brady is the back-up punter.

Jason Maas came in and capped the game's only touchdown drive with a 15-yard toss to Kerry Watkins at 13:59 of the fourth quarter. Edmonton recovered the ensuing kickoff and ran out the clock.

"Duval was dazed — he got hit hard," said Montreal coach Jim Popp. "I told him if you can do anything, it's better than we have backing up.

"Everyone that backs up was hurt. We were looking at third choices — Ashlan Davis, Brad Smith and Paul Lambert. It affects what you can do, but that's part of the game. We just ran into bad luck."

The Alouettes dropped to 1-7 since 2000 in games not started by Calvillo, who they hope will return from a rotator cuff injury on Saturday in Saskatchewan.

Calvillo passed a strength test this week and, if he gets through a week of practice without complications, Popp said he will start in Regina. Brady will likely go on the DL, he added.

Brady dropped to 1-2 as a starter in Calvillo's absence.

Ricky Ray completed 28 passes for 280 yards, but couldn't finish a drive for Edmonton.

And neither team could get a running game going, with Tyler Ebell held to 68 yards on 15 carries for Edmonton and Jarrett Payton picking up only 36 yards on 12 carries for Montreal.

The first half was a mess of turnovers and blown opportunities on both sides, but the Eskimos emerged with a 6-2 lead.

Damien Anderson, filling for returner Tony Tompkins, touched the opening kickoff and watched it roll out at the Edmonton one, setting up Montreal's only points of the half on a safety.

With the Eskimos up 3-0 on a 44-yard Fleming kick, Montreal failed on three attempts to punch the ball in from inside the two and gave it up on downs. The Esks marched back for a 17-yard Fleming field goal.

It was the second time this season the Alouettes have failed to score after a first down on the one and Popp was furious.

"There's no excuse for it," he said. "I didn't like the third play [a roll-out that went for a three-yard loss] we called. That hurt, no question."

Midway through the second quarter, a low snap got past Duval, who recovered but had his punt attempt blocked and run to the Montreal six by Adam Braidwood.

But Ray was then picked off by Mathieu Proulx on the goal-line and Montreal marched back to the Edmonton 26 in the final minute, only to see Brady fumble.

The Alouettes threatened off the opening kickoff of the second half, but Cahoon's 27-yard field goal attempt was wide for a single.

"I just got too cute with it instead of pounding it," Cahoon said. "It was an easy-as-cake field goal."

A big punt with the wind and a penalty forced Montreal to concede a safety at 7:10 and Duval came back in to concede another safety at 6:43 of the fourth quarter. A promising drive ended with Fleming's 18-yard boot with 2:12 left to play.

Fleming went 4-for-4 on field goals despite spending the week at the University of Ottawa at a conference to prepare for exams toward a business degree.

"He was outstanding," Maciocia said. "There were questions about him not being around, but he's so responsible.

"He was kicking every day with Ottawa University and when he got to Montreal [Saturday], we went to the University of Montreal at 9:30 a.m. and worked on place kicking. He didn't miss a beat."

Before the game, the Alouettes honoured retired guard Pierre Vercheval for his recent induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Vercheval, now a French-language analyst on CFL broadcasts, was the league's outstanding lineman in 2000.